On a recent telecast of Forbes SportsMoney on the YES Network, Chris explained why rights fees for Major League Baseball teams like the Los AngelesAngels of Anaheim have been increasing sharply, despite low ratings.

Bevilacqua believes live sports are "holding together" the $150 billion programming business. He says with a 162 game schedule and 30 teams baseball has an advantage in that it can provide "the tonnage" the networks crave. Teams with local television contracts that were negotiated before 2005 are in a good position to renegotiate much more lucrative rights fees.

For example, I wrote about the Seattle Mariners potential to get a much bigger television deal here, and discussed the rights fee prospects of other baseball teams here.